How special are you?
There are many faster and fiercer species. Yet homo sapiens has successfully colonized the planet from the equator to the poles.
The lesson from evolution appears to be that adaptability is a virtue. Our assets are a large brain, good communication skills, an omnivorous diet and an opposed thumb that allows us to make and use tools.
Despite this, I’m going to argue that success and esteem come to those who discover their specialty, not to ‘jacks of all trades’. It’s apparent among medical practitioners and lawyers, so why shouldn’t it be true in public relations?
Your start point - as with these professions - should be a general mastery of the theory and practice. But financial returns will come to those who gain unique skills and knowledge.
There’s no escaping the law of supply and demand. Don’t let me put you off working in consumer public relations if you have a particular passion and flair for the work, but don’t expect this to be be best rewarded sector. Why? Because barriers to entry are low: many people are interested, and little specialist knowledge is required to make a start. For these reasons, I’ve noticed that pay (both in terms of salaries and consultancy fees) is below average and the hours are long.
By contrast, financial public relations and public affairs work tends to be better rewarded and competition for jobs and clients may be less fierce because fewer people and consultancies offer the necessary expertise.